1959 Map of Parker Dam

About this map

The Colorado River and the massive Havasu Lake dominate this desert landscape, captured in the late 1950s after the engineering of the Parker Dam. The map details the complex water infrastructure of the era, including the Whitset Intake and the Gene Wash Reservoir, alongside the Havasu Lake National Wildlife Refuge. The terrain is defined by the Whipple Mountains and Aubrey Hills, where small-scale mining and ranching left their marks. Sites like the Manitowoc Mine and El Campo Mine speak to the region's mineral history, while the Kohen Ranch and remote landings like Black Meadow Landing indicate the sparse but persistent human presence along the river's edge. This survey provides a look at the desert before significant modern recreation development, focusing on water management and the rugged isolation of the Arizona-California border.